Hints:

John

Oh, hello John. Are you using your dictating machine this morning? I've got a long report. I must dictate. Can I borrow your machine? Of course. But can you spare me a second? It's the message you sent me about the delivery delay on the control desks. What's gone wrong? Everything, John. We have to get the steel sheet we need for these desks from new suppliers, well, the suppliers have got some trouble or other. They say they will be a bit late for the delivery. But they can't be. Those control desks are special order. They are wanted for one of the big computer companies. It's a very important contract. When did it promise the delivery? On Thursday next week. And there's a penalty clause. We stand to lose 10% of our price for each week of overdue delivery. Oh, these penalty clauses. Why do you sales people except them? We have to except them. Otherwise, we don't get the contracts. Well, let's get on to the buying department. I only heard about the delay yesterday because we kept the production line clear to handle the special sheets. It's a dreadful nuisance. It will be more than the nuisance. If we don't meet on the delivery date, it will cost us a lot of money. Keep calm, John. We can perhaps claim compensation from the steel suppliers for failure to deliver on time. Then we will settle the penalty clause. Well, if you can.